ARBOR DAY.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVI, Issue 185, 7 August 1935, Page 8

ARBOR DAY.

AUCKLAND CEREMONY

MANY TREES PLANTED.

FUNCTION ON WATERFRONT

Arbor Day was officially observed in Auckland and the euburbs to-day, when a. large number of exotic and native trees were planted on areas requiring beautification and in reserves. The city ceremony was performed this morning on the triangle of waste land between Tamaki Drive and the railway embankment, just beyond Point Resolution. Representatives of the Auckland City Council, other local bodies and organisations interested in horticulture and beautiiication planted 22 trees and spoke of the desirability of not only growing trees but of protecting them once they had taken root. The Mayor, Mr. Ernest Davis, was unable to be present, but a poplar vunnanense was planted for him by the deputy-Mayor, Mr. Bernard Martin Apart from several poplars, karaka, puriri, pohutukawa and several other tvpes of trees were planted. 'The chairman of the parks and. reserves committee of the City Council, Air E J. Phelan, after apologising for the absence of the Mayor, said those present had assembled to celebrate Arbor Day, not only to plant and grow a tree, but to illustrate to the people generally the necessity for protecting trees. He deplored the destruction of bush and considered the time had arrived when they should prohibit the felling of trees even for commercial purposes.

City Council's Programme. The council had endeavoured to do its share of setting an example to the public, as was illustrated by the fact that last season 17,000 trees had been planted, and so far this season 2400 trees had been put in. It was to be hoped that this example would be followed by other local bodies.

Mr. J. B. Paterson, a former chairman of the parks and reserves committee, mentioned that some of the pohuUikawas that had been planted on Tamaki Drive had been damaged or removed, and said that steps should be taken to prevent depredation of that kind. He acknowledged the assistance of the Auckland Harbour Board in placing the area of two acres which they were to plant with trees at the disposal of the Vuncil, and visualised the possibility of securing a further reserve at the Orakei end of the waterfront road for a recreation reserve. He eaid he would continue to do what he could to further the planting of trees, particularly of those that would be to the benefit of native birds, such as tuis and bellbirds, which he would like to see encouraged to come into the city reserves. Mr. A. J. Entrican, who wae deputyMayor for a number of years, eaid that some years ago, when the late Sir Rider Haggard had visited Auckland, he was taken to the Waitakeres and shown a kauri, and he then observed that the man who cut down a tree without planting another should get three months' imprisonment. Mr. Entrican was afraid that if every man who had done that in New Zealand were sent to gaol it would be necessary to increase the prison accommodation.

Planting of Waste Lands. He maintained that unemployed men should be engaged in planting the whole of the waste lands in timber, for better value would be received for the money spent in that way than in any other way. He was pleased to know that something was being done to interest everyone in the planting of trees. Mr. C. G. Macindoe, chairman of the Auckland Harbour Board, concurred in the view that the waste lands should be , planted in merchantable timbers, and considered that Arbor Day should be strictly observed throughout the Dominion. It had always been a pleasure for the board to co-operate with the City Council, and he hoped the good relations would continue.

Mr. S. J. Harbutt, deputy-chairman of the Auckland Electric Power Board, said that anything they could do to stimulate regard for trees was worthwhile work.

The Mayor of Mount Albert, Mr. R. Ferner, explained that the example set by the City Council was not lost to suburban local authorities, who had also arranged celebrations for to-day. He suggested that on future occasions the children should be encouraged to take part in the city Arbor Day functions.

Professor H. H. Corbin, president of the Auckland Council of the New Zealand Institute of Horticulture, thought they could not do too much in the direction of tree planting. There was likely to be a keen demand in the future for New Zealand softwoods, as the Empire's supplies of timber could not last indefinitely. In passing he paid a tribute to Mr. N. R. W. Thomas, of the New Zealand Institute of Horticulture, for his efforts in getting the Minister of Internal Affairs to fix a definite date for the observance of Arbor Day throughout the Dominion.

The deputy-Mayor, Mr. Martin, also spoke, stressing the desirability of replacing trees on the lands which had been denuded by their forefathers. There was an inherent love and appreciation of timber and trees, he said, that struck a chord in the natures of most people. Suburban Ceremonies. This afternoon ceremonies arranged by the Otahuhu and Mount Albert Borough Councils were also held. At Sturges Park, Otahuhu, about 2000 boys and girls, incTutfmg pupils of the Otahuhu Technical High School and King's College, were present to witness the planting of trees and to hear an address appropriate to the occasion by Miss M. Crookes, a member of the executive of the Auckland District Council of the Institute of Horticulture. The secretary, Miss E. F. Kibhlewhite, was also

present. The Mount Albert function v.-.as held at Fowlde Park, when representatives of all the erhools in the district were present. Addresses were given by the Mayor, Mr. R. Ferner, and the first Mayor of the borough, Mr. J.I. J. Coyle. Five children from each of the schools planted trees.